Announcing the establishment of SDGs Design Unit, which will contribute in the realm of design to the SDGs set by the UN

The Faculty of Design at Kyushu University established SDGs Design Unit in April 2018 to contribute in the realm of design towards the “Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs) set by the UN to be achieved by 2030.

Overview
Although none of the SDGs can be easily achieved and demand various approaches from a national to an individual level, this unit will be focused on “solutions through design.” By collaborating with Center for Designed Futures of Kyushu University (Centers for Common Education and Research), we will promote activities towards achieving goals by “cross-sectoral” collaboration with other departments.

Also, since the SDGs are goals cannot be solved by academism alone, the unit will be positioned as a “social platform” to explore solutions together with industry, citizens, etc,, and will promote specific projects for implementation in society. We will also cooperate with international institutions and overseas universities with design departments that are affiliated with the Faculty of Design at Kyushu University, to develop a “Global Design Movement.”

SDGs Design Unit Members
We will promote activities centered on 10 faculty members, which will include multinational teachers from different fields of expertise such as cultural anthropology, philosophy, mathematical biology, in addition to design-related university faculty members specializing in design research, education, and production. The Unit Head will be Professor Shigeki Inoue of the Faculty of Design. We will also be recruiting student to run the “The SDGs Design Club”, which will be launched at the same time, to promote activities in cooperation with the local area.

SDGs Design Unit Activities
We aim to provide “creative, specific output” to the world with “activities” cooperating with organizations and individuals inside and outside the university, on mutually related issues such as “educational activities” by opening the “SDGs Design School” for students and members of society, “research activities” such as developing methods to research and solve issues related to SDGs, “production activities” such as product development through collaborative research with companies, and “social system construction” in cooperation with government.

[Inquiries]
Faculty of Design, Kyushu University
Professor Shigeki Inoue
Tel: +81 92 553 4505
Mail: s-inoue(a)design.kyushu-u.ac.jp